Not every football player can be a kick returner and very few actually like the position.

But for Swansboro’s DeAndre Thompkins, returning kicks was not just one of his many positions, it was a spot he enjoyed having for the Pirates.

“Definitely,” he said. “You just feel like you can do anything. You catch the ball, go left or right and you have to be confident.”

Thompkins just about did anything he wanted this past season while returning kicks as he led the state with five returns for touchdowns and averages 50.9 yards per kick return.

His efforts landed him a spot on The Associated Press state high school football all-state football team as a kick returner.

The all-state team is voted on by statewide media members.

“Not everybody expects to make all-state,” Thompkins said. “So it is a surprise.”

Swansboro coach Tim Laspada said Thompkins was deserving of the honor.

“Anytime you have a type of caliber kid he is, it’s definitely rewarding to see him successful,” Laspada said. “DeAndre led the state in kickoff returns for touchdowns and that is pretty impressive. He is pretty elite.”

The 6-foot, 17-pound Thompkins was a dangerous player, despite Swansboro going 4-7 overall and 1-6 in the East Central 2-A Conference this year.

He opened the season with two kickoff returns for touchdowns in a 26-6 win at Lejeune and returned a kickoff 80 yards for a score in a 20-13 victory over West Carteret.

Thompkins also returned a punt 84 yards for a touchdown in a 34-21 loss at Bertie and added a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in a 54-28 loss at Clinton.

Both Thompkins and Laspada said the player’s field vision allowed him to find holes to run through en route to touchdown returns.

“He has great vision,” Laspada said. “When he gets the ball in his hands, the more space you give him, the better he is. He can make people miss. He has that speed to find the hole and when he does, you’re not going to catch him.”

And then sometimes Thompkins creates the space for himself.

“I can cut and switch the field. I think that’s the key,” Thompkins said. “Having speed to get there is key for kickoff returns.”

But while Thompkins is an all-state kick returner, the position wasn’t the only spot where he played well for Swansboro.

He also rushed for 1,359 yards and 10 touchdowns to go along with a pair of touchdown passes. As a defensive back, Thompkins had 144 tackles.

It’s safe to say then that Thompkins rarely left the field on Friday nights.

“It was physically tiring, of course,” he said. “But your mind keeps you in the game.”

Page 2 of 2 - Still, Thompkins has been mindful of the attention he’s received this year from NCAA Division I programs.

The 17-year-old Thompkins has been offered by Penn State, North Carolina, N.C. State, Duke and Charlotte among others and has received interests from among others South Carolina.

However, Thompkins, who added he is still looking over his options before committing, tries not to let the attention get to his head.

“My coach tells me not to get big-headed and my parents keep me grounded,” Thompkins said. “I want to do the right things.”